Aligarh (UP), Jun 17 (PTI) A prominent sports goods trader on Wednesday died allegedly due to respiratory failure after a fire broke out at his double-storeyed bungalow in the posh Hariom Nagar colony of Aligarh city, police said.
The deceased was identified as Subhash Kalra (80), owner of several retail stores dealing in sports goods.
Chief Fire Officer Mukesh Kumar Singh said that the fire broke out around 8 pm, after which fire tenders rushed to the spot.
However, Kalra, who was trapped inside his bedroom when the fire broke out, had fallen unconscious before rescue teams could reach him.
He was taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead, Singh said.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the air-conditioner line, officials said.
Some eyewitnesses claimed that the blaze might have started after the air-conditioner compressor burst, though the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
At the time of the incident, Kalra’s two sons and a sister were also present in the house. They managed to escape safely and did not suffer any injuries, officials said.
The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, while further investigation into the incident is underway. PTI COR ABN AMJ AMJ
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